News in brief

Press, 2 March 1982, Page 23

News in brief

Perkin-Elmer Data Systems is to open a Christchurch engineering and support office late this. year. Perkin-Elmer is the supplier of computers to the New Zealand Totalisator Agency Board for on-course betting. N.Z. Computer Society The first meeting of the New Zealand Computer Society for 1982 was a demonstration of the capabilities of microcomputer systems. On display were five different microcomputers. Mr Derham McAven, from Christchurch Polytechnic, started the meeting by summarising major microcomputer concepts and then invited attendees to inspect the hardware and software on display. A special feature of the demonstration was a communication link between three of the microcomputers using a local area network product. This illustrated the

compatibility benefits obtainable when suppliers base their products on the CP/M or MP/M operating systems. Judging by the composition of the large audience there were a number of members of the mainframe computing fraternity getting their first demonstration of the amazing 'microcomputer world. Datapoint The Datapoint Corporation has installed in Wellington the first computer system in a pilot contract with the State Insurance Office. The State Insurance network will be a distributed network of Datapoint computers communicating with the IBM mainframes at the Government’s Cumberland Computer Centre. Datapoint systems installed in branch offices will give State Insurance Office staff access to customer information. The network will operate under the IBM SNA network architecture.

Exhibition A major office and business systems exhibition is being planned for Christchurch next year. The organisers, Xpo Exhibitions, are confident of the viability of such an exhibition based on the support that has been received for similar shows in Auckland and Wellington. The exhibition will display a complete range of business equipment and allied services, ranging from computer systems to basic office equipment. It will be held in the Town Hall. Last year the organisers ran the first Auckland exhibition. The inaugural Wellington exhibition runs next month. Forty companies have booked display space in Wellington. This response, says Xpo Exhibitions, proves beyond a doubt that the industry needs a specialised trade show in this field. Free trade passes are available for the Wellington show.